And it's not the first time, either. Last fall, Mary Ann and Vernon Byrd who own a pecan processing operation and farm west of Butler, Mo. in the little crossroads village of Virginia, were contacted by a touring company that needed to fill in its itinerary. The touring company specializes in taking busloads of mostly retired folks to the Ozarks and Branson. However, they needed to fill in some time on the return trip with an interesting side trip. They had heard about Byrd's Pecans. They asked if the Byrds would provide snacks and drinks and give a short tour of the processing plant and perhaps the pecan farm. The Byrds obliged, and so did the tourists. They bought pecans by the sacks. And they learned a little bit about the industry as well.
In May, the tour company called again and the Byrds obliged. They asked neighbor Larry Harper to join them and he gave the group a quick review of black walnut production as they cruised by his farm on the way to the Byrd's farm. Grafting was in full swing and quite visible from the bus windows which prompted many questions.